Volume 6, Issue 1 - Naval Sea Systems Command - The US Navy

Above left to right: MOD I Plastic Waste Processor installations
aboard the USS Millius (DDG 69) (the current design
compressed melt unit is to the right of the PWP); the
USS Laboon (DDG 58); and the USS Antietam (CG 54).
These PWPs reduce the volume of plastic waste to the
extent that the waste is retained onboard for the duration
of their at-sea time, enabling the ships to comply with
zero plastic waste discharge requirements.
Photos provided by Martin Cohen, NSWC Carderock Division.
the amount of cleaning time and effort by ship’s force.
Ultimately, Machinery Alterations (MACHALTs) for surface
ships and ship alterations (SHIPALTs) for aircraft carriers
were chosen as the means by which this equipment would be
backfitted to fleet assets.
The MACHALTs and SHIPALTs did not apply to
new-construction ships such as USS George H.W. Bush (CVN
77), USS America (LHA 6), USS Makin Island (LHD 8), and
the USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) and USS San Antonio (LPD
17) ship classes. NAVSEA and NSWCCD lobbied to have
the ship program managers change the ship specifications
to purchase the new MOD I PWP equipment. Changing to
MOD I PWPs also provided a direct cost savings for some
ship programs, since the increased processing rate of the MOD
I equipment permitted a reduction in the number of PWPs
required. Bush went from a baseline of 10 legacy PWPs to
six MOD I units. Likewise, America and Makin Island went
from six legacy PWPs to four MOD I units. At a cost of
approximately $50,000 for each PWP, cost savings on these
two amphibious ships was over $100,000 per ship. San Antonio
Class ships went from three legacy units to two MOD I units
for a cost savings of over $50,000 per ship.
DDG-51 Class ships initiated an ECP to purchase
the PWP MOD I equipment starting with DDG-107. So far,
this equipment has been procured for installation on ships up
to DDG-112. New DDG-51 Class shipbuilding will have this
equipment written into the original contract.
Finally, current plans call for the acquisition and
installation of the PWP MOD I on CVN-78 and DDG-1000.
It is NAVSEA’s intention to require this equipment for
all future ship acquisition programs that require plastics
processing to effectively manage the waste stream and
comply with current directives.
Core equities
Above: The USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). Machinery and ship
alterations did not apply to this aircraft carrier and other newconstruction
vessels, but ship specifications were changed to
purchase MOD I PWPs. Ten legacy PWPs were replaced by six
MOD I units. To date, NSWCCD has completed machinery and
ship alteration installations aboard 81 ships.
U.S. Navy photo.
Installation of MOD I PWPs to the active fleet by
MACHALT and SHIPALT was started in FY 05. To date,
NSWCCD has completed MACHALT/SHIPALT installations
on 81 ships. MOD I PWP MACHALT/SHIPALT installations
are scheduled to complete in FY 16 with installations planned
for a total of 130 ships, with an added 20 ships receiving MOD
I PWPs during new construction or through other means.
The installation of MOD I PWPs on 130 ships
provides significant benefit to the fleet in operation and
maintenance manpower savings, and enhances the ability of
Navy ships to meet Navy environmental requirements while
performing their assigned missions.
Technical Point of Contact
Martin Cohen
martin.cohen@navy.mil
215-897-1064 (DSN 443)
Core Equity Leader, Environmental Quality Systems
Richard Ruediger
richard.ruediger@navy.mil
215-897-7267 (DSN 443)
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